2016 Lottery Selection

We thank everyone that entered the 2016 Superior Spring Trail Race 25KM and 50KM lottery. The lottery drawing took place on Tuesday January 19th, 2016 in accordance with our lottery protocol and procedures. Those selected have had their payment processed and their names added to the list of registered runners – for those that were selected but had their payment fail (invalid payment info submitted, insufficient funds, etc.) you have been sent an email with instructions on how to fix the mistake / make payment – if you do not make payment within 48 hours the spot will be offered to someone else (those that did not make it in, please do not email about these spots, they will be issued at random, our experience is that it is only one or two spots that go unclaimed.)

The list of registered runners is available on our website and UltraSignup and can be found by following the links below.

*If your name does not appear on the list it means that you were not selected to participate in this years event – please note that you will NOT receive additional notification and that we do not keep a waiting list.

The reason for the implementation of a lottery for choosing the “start list” was once again validated by the fact that demand (lottery applications) greatly outstripped supply (available race slots). While we find no pleasure in turning away runners that would have liked to participate in the race, we do so in compliance with the agreements made with the agencies that permit or event while balancing the appropriate number of runners on the trail in careful consideration of; trail impact, runner safety, participant experience in addition to several other factors. We will always put our permitting agencies regulations, trail-sustainability, runner-safety and runner enjoyment above all else to ensure a safe, fun and sustainable event for all and know that you would expect nothing less of us.

We encourage those who were not chosen in the lottery to please not give up on the Superior Spring Trail Race and apply to future editions of the event. We also encourage you to use this as an opportunity to get involved as a volunteer – this race and nearly every other race can only exist if volunteers step up and help make them happen… run some and volunteer at some that is our philosophy. Additionally, we suggest that those who did not get in to this years event look for and participate in any of the other great early season trail races in our region – there are several other fantastic “local” options between April and early June including (but not limited to) the Zumbro Endurance Run, the Chippewa Moraine Races, Chester Woods and more. There are many online resources for finding trail / ultra races in our region including Upper Midwest Trail Runners, Minnesota Runner, UltraSignup, Ultrarunning Magazine, Trail Runner Magazine and more.

For those of you that were selected to participate in this years race we look forward to seeing you on the start line in May. Please be sure to take the time to look over our website again and familiarize yourself with all aspects of the event paying special attention to the information located on the 25KM and 50KM race pages along with the Aid Stations, Maps and Data page.

Again, we cannot thank you all enough for your continued interest in the Superior Spring Trail Race! As always, should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Registration / Lottery:
Opens Tuesday January 1st, 2019 – 12:01AM CST
Closes Tuesday January 15th, 2019 – 11:59PM CST
* Due to high demand, registration for the Superior “Spring” Trail Race is held via a lottery, more details about the lottery can be found HERE

More About the Area:
The North Shore of Lake Superior runs from Duluth, Minnesota at the Southwestern end of the lake, to Thunder Bay and Nipigon, Ontario, Canada, in the North to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in the east. The shore is characterized by alternating rocky cliffs and cobblestone beaches, with rolling hills and ridges covered in boreal forest inland from the lake, through which scenic rivers and waterfalls descend as they flow to Lake Superior. The shoreline between the city of Duluth to the international border at Grand Portage as the North Shore. Lake Superior is considered the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is the world’s third-largest freshwater lake by volume and the largest by volume in North America. The Superior Hiking Trail, also known as the SHT, is a 310-mile long distance hiking single-track hiking trail in Northeastern Minnesota that follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior for most of its length. The trail travels through forests of birch, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar. Hikers and runners enjoy views of boreal forests, the Sawtooth Mountains, babbling brooks, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. The lowest point on the trail is 602 feet above sea level and the highest point is 1,829 feet above sea level.